What to skin canoe with

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by Miny, Jul 5, 2021.

  1. Miny
    Joined: Jul 2021
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    Location: ontario

    Miny Junior Member

    I have a 10'6 Bluewater adirondack, looks like something custom built really. But the "skin" is peeling. The "skin" seems like it has a light fiberglass in it. I figure I would peel it all off, put a sheet of 4oz fiberglass cloth on it and coat/wet it out with west marine epoxy. would that be suitable as a repair? Should I go with 6OZ instead? trying to keep it light. Can upload more pictures later today.
     

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  2. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
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    Location: Victoria BC Canada

    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    Welcome to the Forum.

    What does it weight?
     
  3. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    4 oz is awfully light and won't do much for abrasion

    I'd go with the 6 oz, say 3 yards of cloth is only going to be 2.5 pounds, plus a couple of neat coats is a pound...then the finish is lighter in paint than lotsa varnish

    I really love painting interlux 2000 for primer..
     
  4. kapnD
    Joined: Jan 2003
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    kapnD Senior Member

    Fallguy,
    I’ve always used 2000 for the bottom, where it’s under bottom paint, and fine finish is not an issue.
    Is it soft enough to sand out fair?
     
  5. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    He will need to decide if he wants to fair, but a boat like this could be prefaired with an epoxy fairing compound before the glass and very little fairing after a couple neat coats are needed.

    you need to verify no blush and washing the boat after epoxywork is wise

    the 2000 would be sanded with 180 grit before topcoats
     
  6. Miny
    Joined: Jul 2021
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    Location: ontario

    Miny Junior Member

    somewhere under 30lbs so far
    so I didnt realize that 6OZ plus a couple of coats of epoxy would only add that much weight, I will likely do that.

    what is fairing? I wasn't really thinking i would painting it afterwards. its being stored inside
     
  7. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    funny...

    the reason the skin failed is is had no uv protection

    I kept my canoe in the garage for 3 years with only garage door windows and the bottom inside chalked and needed redoing.

    Epoxy cannot withstand any sunshine. Oh, a month of two maybe in Minnesota.

    Fairing is smoothing any ridges or humps. It isn't a requirement, but you don't want a rough woven finish because the canoe will be draggy like sandpaper over your skin.
     
  8. Miny
    Joined: Jul 2021
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    Location: ontario

    Miny Junior Member

    oh the fairing part makes perfect sense then. I probably would have done that anyways, or be careful enough woth my epoxy to say its fine.

    So you figure I'm on the right track, 6oz fiberglass, West marine 105/207V size. Peel the easily peeled what looks to be fiberglass, sand a bit to a haze(clean obv), lay a 6oz over and epoxy it. Then I guess clear with some sort of uv protection.
     
  9. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    No loose or chalked epoxy can remain. Sand with 60 grit paper; probably by hand to avoid blowing through... you will blow thru some, don't worry...

    I'd not bother with clear for a banged up redo. Color it with some paint and it'll look new and last 10 times longer.
     
  10. Miny
    Joined: Jul 2021
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    Location: ontario

    Miny Junior Member

     
  11. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Peeling glass by pulling will inevitably result in some problems. The peel strength of glass is never as hoped.

    sure, when large pieces are not attached, but the best way to do it is to sand the intersections until the bad glass falls away and this avoids pulling good glass
     
  12. Miny
    Joined: Jul 2021
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    Location: ontario

    Miny Junior Member

    Ok, sounds good, I will keep that in mind as I'm going at this. As it sits, if i use a razor scraper its less like its peeling and more like its falling off. But with that in mind I will go at it cautiously.

    My biggest concern was if I was wrong in thinking I should put fiberglass over kevlar like that. if it is kevlar. then it was the weight of fiberglass.

    I estimate that having a b sized west marine epoxy(aprox 1gallon) should leave me with extra. and that 12yards fiberglass should leave me with extra as well. Canoe is 10'6-11ft long, 26 wide. I think I have this, and with the input its much appreciated!
     
  13. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Kevlar can get fuzzy if you blow thru it. So, you'll want to use care, but glassing over it for this project is quite smart and will extend the life of the boat.
     
    Kayakmarathon likes this.
  14. Blueknarr
    Joined: Aug 2017
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    Blueknarr Senior Member

    Your photo shows that Kevlar was not previously used.
     

  15. Miny
    Joined: Jul 2021
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    Location: ontario

    Miny Junior Member

    it may not have been, I will take a few more pictures tommorrow, please stay posted for that. the layer under the what seems to be fiberglass seems like its minty fresh, clean and not abused. I almost think someone skinned it before using it.
     
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